The Rundown for August 14, 2018

FBI FIRES STRZOK… The FBI fired Agent Peter Strzok yesterday in response to anti-Trump private texts he sent to FBI lawyer Lisa Page. The firing came despite an FBI disciplinary office recommending a 60-day suspension and a demotion. Strzok defended himself last month during tense congressional testimony, insisting that his texts reflected no “conspiratorial bias” as he helped lead the bureau’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

TRUMP SIGNS DEFENSE BILL… President Trump yesterday signed a $716 billion defense policy bill that authorizes military spending and strengthens the government’s power to review and potentially block business deals involving foreign firms, including China’s ZTE Corp and Huawei Technologies. Trump signed the bill into law at the Fort Drum Army base in upstate New York. The bill was named for ailing U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona, who is a political critic of Trump’s. The president didn’t mention his name during the ceremony.

PROSECUTION RESTS IN MANAFORT CASE… The prosecution rested its case yesterday in the federal bank fraud and tax-evasion trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Prosecutors called 27 witnesses during 10 days of proceedings. Yesterday, they called the last banker to testify and asked a financial fraud federal agent to return to the witness box. The trial is due to resume this morning. Manafort’s lawyers have asked Judge T.S. Ellis III to throw out the charges, but he is expected to decline and allow the trial to move forward.

NORTH DAKOTA TO VOTE ON LEGAL MARIJUANA… North Dakotans yesterday approved a measure that puts marijuana-legalization on the November ballot. The state legalized marijuana for medicinal use two years ago. If recreational marijuana is approved, it would be limited to people over the age of 21 and regulated similar to alcohol.

MAN FLIES PLANE INTO HOME… Authorities in Payson, Utah, announced yesterday a man was killed yesterday after he flew a plane into his own home while his wife and son were there on Sunday night. Police say 47-year-old Duane Youda had been arrested for a domestic violence incident earlier in the day. His wife and son were not injured.

ENTERTAINMENTARETHA FRANKLIN ‘GRAVELY ILL’… Legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin is “gravely ill,” her family confirmed yesterday. The 76-year-old entertainer has been surrounded by family and friends while under Hospice care at her home in Detroit. Health problems forced Franklin to cancel two concerts scheduled in New Jersey last March. Her most recent performance was November 2, 2017, at the Elton John AIDS Foundation in New York and her final public performance was at Philadelphia’s Mann Center in August 2017. A biopic starring Jennifer Hudson as Franklin is scheduled to begin filming next year.

LIV SCHREIBER TO BE ARRAIGNED… Liev Schreiber is scheduled to be arraigned in Rockland County, New York, Superior Court today. The 50-year-old actor facing a harassment charge stemming from an encounter with a photographer in June. The “Ray Donovan” has been charged with a violation, not a crime.

SPORTSMLBNL SCORES…ATLANTA 9 – Miami 1… 22-year-old Haitian-American Touki Toussaint allowed just a run on two hits over six innings in his major-league debut and got plenty of support as the Braves bombed the Marlins in a doubleheader opener. Ronald Acuna Jr. got things going with a homer to lead off the bottom of the first inning and added a two-run double. Ozzie Albies drove in two runs with a pair of singles.

ATLANTA 6 – Miami 1… The Braves breezed past the Marlins to complete a sweep of the twinbill. Ronald Acuna Jr. became just the fourth player to hit leadoff homers in both games of a doubleheader. Freddie Freeman also went deep. Mike Foltynewicz (10-7) surrendered a run on five hits over eight innings.

ST. LOUIS 7 – Washington 6… Paul DeJong’s homer to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Cardinals a walkoff victory over the Nationals. Jed Gyorko hit a leadoff homer and Matt Carpenter added a three-run shot during a four-run eighth.

San Francisco 5 – L.A. DODGERS 2… The Giants rallied to score four runs in the top of the ninth inning and upend the Dodgers. Pinch-hitter Nick Hundley came through with a go-ahead two-run single. The game featured a duel between San Francisco starter Madison Bumgarner and his counterpart Clayton Kershaw, but neither got a decision.

AL SCORES…DETROIT 9 – Chi. White Sox 5… Nicholas Castellanos went 5-for-5 with a homer and five RBIs in leading the Tigers past the White Sox. James McCann had three hits and scored three runs.

KANSAS CITY 3 – Toronto 1… Brad Keller (5-5) held the Blue Jays to a run on four hits over seven innings and the Royals topped the Blue Jays. Ryan O’Hearn drove in all three Kansas City runs with a bases-loaded walk and a two-run homer.

OAKLAND 7 – Seattle 6… Jed Lowrie went 3-for-5 and knocked in four runs as the Athletics held off the Mariners in a matchup of AL West contenders. Matt Chapman had three hits and two RBIs. Sean Manaea (11-8) allowed two runs on five hits over 7-2/3 innings.

INTERLEAGUE SCORES…N.Y. Mets 8 – N.Y. YANKEES 5… The Mets got a two-run homer from Jose Batista and solo blasts from Amed Rosario, Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto and Todd Frazier in downing the Yankees. Jacob deGrom (7-7) gave up three runs on five hits and struck out 12 over 6-2/3 innings.

Cleveland 10 – CINCINNATI 3… The Indians used a seven-run bottom of the sixth inning to put away the Reds. Jose Ramirez hit a two-run homer and singled home a run. Cleveland got a two-run double from Jason Kipnis and a two-run single from Melky Cabrera. Mike Clevinger (8-7) gave up two runs on five hits over five innings.

TEXAS 5 – Arizona 3… Robinson Chirinos belted a go-ahead three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning and singled home a run as the Rangers got past the Diamondbacks. 45-year-old Bartolo Colon (7-10) allowed three runs on four hits over five innings.

L.A. Angels 6 – SAN DIEGO 3 (10 innings)… Justin Upton’s two-run homer capped a four-run top of the 10th inning that carried the Angels past the Padres. Jose Briceno homered to lead off the third for L.A.